Portable electric lumber and timber grade-marking device



April 19, 1927.

H, W. WHITED PORTABLE ELECTRIC LUMBER AND TIMBER GRADE MARKING DEVICE Filed A112. 5, 1925 Ev l- Chrome Patented Apr. 19, 1927.

UNlTED STATES HARRY XV. \VIET'PIITED, :5 NACDGDOCHES, TEX.

IPQRIABLE ELECTRIC LUM'BEEEE AND GRADE-MARKING DEVICE.

Application filed August 5, 1325. Serial no. 45,324.

This invention relates to a device for i'um'king the grade of lumber or timber by an electrically heated tool and is more particularly adapted to an improvement over the device embodied in my co-pending ap plication bearing Serial Number 41,705, tiled July 6, 1925.

One of the important objects of the pres ent invention is to provide a tool which is oil such construction to enable the same to be instantaneously heated, the tool being further oi such construction as to cause the heat to be entirely concentrated directly in the letters and figures which characters are cn'lployed for marking the grades of the lumber or timber.

Another important object is to provide a branding tool wherein the characters which are employed for marking the lumber or timber are formed of a resistance wire and a connection is made between each character and a. suitable lead in wire.

A further object is to provide a branding tool of the above mentioned character which includes a hand operated switch mounted in the handle of the tool which may be readily and casilj actuated for controlling the flow of current to the characters which. comprise the branding elements.

A still further object is to provide alu'ai'iding tool of the above mentioned character which is simple in construction, ineze pensive. and tl urther well adapted to the purposes for which it is designed.

Other objects and advantages of the invention. will become apparent during the course of the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing.

In the accompanying drawing forming a part of this application and in which like numerals designate like parts throughout the same Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view tl'irough the tool embodying my invention, parts being shown in elevation.

Figure is a sectional. view througl'i the head, the handle and tubular shank being shown in elevation, and

Figure 3 is a bottom plan View of the head showing the manner in which the characters are arranged thereon.

In the drawing, wherein for the purpose at illustration is shown the n'eterred embodiment of my invention, the numeral 1 designates the handle which is formed oi any suitable insulated material and the same is provided with the stenciled longitudinally extending bore 2 in which is disposed the major portion of the tubular shank 3. it. flange 4- is formed on the lower end of the shank 3 and adjnstably secured thereto is the head 5 which is of substantially rectangular design. This head is preferably formed cl asbestos although any other suitable non-conducting material may be substituted therefor and I do not wish to limit myself to the particular character of material which may be used. The securing means for the head is illustrated at 6.

The characters which are employed for marking the lumber or timber in grading the same are indicated generally at 7 and the same are formed of resistance wire and a corn nection is provided between each of the characters as is clearly illustrated in Figure 8. These letters and numerals which form the indicia to be marked on the lumber are pretterably arranged on the bottom face ot' the head. The resistance wire 8 extends upwardlv through suitable passages 9 provided therefor in the asbestos head or block 5 and these end. passages communicate with the longitu din ally extending cutout portion 10 formed in the upper portion of the head or block 5. The free ends of the resistance wires are secured to the lower end of the lead-in wires 11, the latter extending longitudinally within the tubular shanks 3 and are secured to any suitable source of electric current, not shown.

A thumb switch designated generally by the numeral 12 is provided in a transversely extending recess 13 formed in the upper portion of the handle 1 and this switch is con nected with the lead-in wires in any suitable manner. It is obvious that when the handle of the tool is grasped and it is desired to use the tool, the thumb switch will be depressed thereby closing the circuit and causing the current to flow through the wires to the characters and instantaneously heating the same so that the indicia may be burnt into the lumber or timber which is to be marked or graded. On the release or the handle or when pressure is removed from the thumb switch, the current will be auton'iatically cut ott'.

A. branding tool of the above mentioned character is particularly adapted for use in connection with low voltage so as to insure an instantaneous heating or a branding element.

The simplicity in which my improved branding tool is constructed enables the same to be readily and easily handled and will furthermore permit the lumber or timber to be marked very easily and readily and without any danger of the occurrence of a fire.

While I have shown the preferred embodiment of my invention it is to be understood that various changes in the size, shape, and arrangement oi parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claim.

What I claim is:

A branding tool of the class described comprising an elongated tubular shank, a handle enclosing the upper portion thereof, a flange formed on the lower end of the tubular shank, a head of insulated material secured on the bottom of the flange, brandmg characters formed of resistance wires arranged on the bottom of the head, certain characters being, connected together, the head being provided with vertical end passages through which the tree ends of the resistance wire pass, said head being further provided with a longitudinally extending cut out portion in the top thereof for communication with the upper ends of the respective vertical passages in which the free ends of the resistance wires are disposed, lead wires extending through the tubular shank and the handle and connected at their lower ends to the free ends of the resistance wires, and a thumb switch associated with the lead wires and arranged transversely in said handle.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

HARRY W. WHITED. 

